Foldable strainer device



July 28, 1959 Filed Aug. 26, 1957 INVENTOR Charles dfloffbezyer ATTORNEYS nited States FOLDABLE- DEVICE Charles C. Ho f rgep, Baltimore, Md. Application August, 1957, Serial' No; 680,195

1 Claim. Cl. 210-473 This invention relates to a form of paper receptacle or funnel, and more particularly to a paper device useful in the medical or quasi-medical field.

As a background te-.'t-h, description of this invention and its specialized use, it may be stated as a well-known fact, at least to those of the medical profession, that there are hundreds of thousands of people in this country chronically or critically suffering from kidney stone afflictions. The patient is often advised to retrieve the foreign particle for purposes of clinical examination. And this presents an obvious problem of inconvenience and perhaps embarrassment, particularly when it is impossible to have ordinary suitable household utensils at hand for the required purpose.

Accordingly, this invention is designed to perform a service for such persons in making it possible to retrieve the stones for necessary medical examination, such often culminating in proper diagnosis of the exact nature of the afliication suffered by the individual under consideration. 1

In the instant case, the container or funnel-like receptacle is one that is foldable, cheaply made of almost any ordinary type of paper, and designed to be used once and discarded. The article may be sterilized at the factory and hence, its use is sanitary. The device is so simplified in character as to permit its packaging in small cartons or folders which may be carried upon the person for use as desired.

It is accordingly a primary object to provide a receptacle of the described type that is sanitary to use, simplified in construction, and at the same time most efficient for the purpose for which designed.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a structure of the described type that, lending itself to fabrication of many different materials and representing the essence of simplicity, may be manufactured at a minimum of cost and sold to the consumer at a nominal price.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a foldable, kidney stone retrieving device that may be packaged in multiples and carried in flat, folded, condition on the person for immediate use and disposal when needed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention should be apparent from the following description thereof, having reference to these several figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention when the carton or container is in partially folded condition, exemplifying the nature of the fold and the manner in which the product can be completely flattened for packaging purposes;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the invention, illustrating the pyramidal shape of the unit in an unfolded condition or representing the shape thereof when it is opened for use;

Figure 3 is an elevation, section view of the invention, particularly disclosing the flap means containing the ice 2 strainer portion of the advice and indicating the position of the latterwhen ready for use, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the article comprising the invention showing the square, crossrsectional configuration or shape thereof as utilized in the preferred embodiment of the invention. I

Having more particular referenceto these figures, it is seen that the container, here preferably made of light weight paper or equivalent material adaptable for the described purpose, consists of the usual four sides, 1, 2, 3 and 4, extending from their adjoining upper edges, generally indicated at 10, downwardly to a more restricted apex of the pyramidal shape, generally indicated at 15. a

It may be appreciated from this general identification of the configuration of the container that it may be made from one piece of material, pre-cut to size in fiat formation and then when disposed as shown in these figures, having the free and adjoining edges sealed or secured together in any usual fashion. It will also be noted that this pyramid-like shape of the funnel structure terminates in an open bottom portion represented by the opening 18, of substantially smaller dimension than the larger upper opening 19.

Any one of the sides may be pre-cut with an extension 20 serving the purpose of a handle, and here shown as being upon side 2 of the article, or that side fitted with the strainer means.

In Figure 2, the fold lines are indicated at 23 and 25. These bisect opposed sides of the container, here sides 1 and 3. Such sides along the indicated fold lines may be partially perforated or imprinted to facilitate folding at the time of manufacture. opposed sides 1 and 3 are depressed inwardly or toward each other, these fold lines become apices which gradually approach each other until the carton is disposed in a completely flattened state. As shown in Figure 1, the carton is partially open and hence this figure may be considered as representative only of the manner of flattening the unit prior to packaging the same.

The square shape of the funnel having reference to its cross-sectional configuration, is conducive to the insertion of a sieve means or strainer. The latter also is made of paper or similar material. It is so constructed as to lie flat against one side wall of the container, here side 2, until the device is opened or positioned for use.

This strainer portion of the invention consists of a cardboard or paper frame 30 which is fitted with an extension or flap 35. Being adapted to fit within the expanded carton, the frame 30 is also of square configuration. The flap 35 is gummed in order that it can be secured to one of the side walls, e.g. the side wall 2 of the container as herein shown. In Figures 2 and 3 the manner of afiixing the frame 30 is clearly depicted. Here the frame 30, provided with a substantial cut-out portion or opening 32, is of such dimension as to rather exactly fit into the pyramidal funnel at a point which is somewhat more than half-way down from the top opening 19.

The paper frame 30 affords support for the strainer itself, here indicated at 38. The latter may be of any suitable material of a readily disposable type such as filter paper, gauze, light fabric, or other obvious equivalents manifestly suitable for the purpose. It is, of course, desired that whatever material be used it be cheap enough to facilitate mass manufacture of the invention, and that it be of a nature that will permit effective sanitization thereof during the course of manufacture.

Although the essence of simplicity, it should be recognized that the unique construction of the strainer portion of the device adapts itself to a carton or container designed to be packaged in fiat condition and instantly opened with great ease. In other words, and as stated,

At any rate, when such the entire flap 30, including the strainer portion 38 lies flat against the side wall 2 when the funnel is disposed in folded or collapsed condition for packaging purposes. To place the funnel in condition for use the patient merely extends the folded side walls untilrthe configuration of Figure 2 is attained and then flips down the strainer 38 which will be swiveled upon the gummed flap 35 in a manner indicated by the arrow of Figure 3.

Suitable for use by persons of both sexes, this article presents a convenient, quasi-medical container that may be carried as a packaged item with a number of cartons in each package. Cheaply manufactured, it can be sold through drug outlets as a sanitary, safe to use, and readily disposable article.

' Iclaim:

A disposable strainer device made of a foldable paper material comprising upstanding side walls forming an approximate square configuration in cross-section, said device being open at both ends, said side walls forming an approximate pyramidal configuration, strainer means adapted for positioning laterally between said side walls and intermediate said open ends, said strainer means comprising a flap secured to one of said side walls, said flap having a fold line adjacent to said one side wall permitting said strainer means to be positioned alternately to said one side wall and;downwardly approximately perpendicularly thereto, said flap having a frame approximating the shape of said cross-sectional configuration, said frame having a central aperture therethrough, and means to strain fluids over said aperture, at least one pair of opposed side walls having fold lines therein to permit said walls to be folded inwardly, said flap being secured to a side wall other than one of said opposed side walls, said fold lines permitting said device to be folded flat for packaging and opened for use with said strainer means swiveled downwardly in said lateral position.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 4, 1919 

